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Canadians spent more money abroad and took Canada's international travel deficit to $3.5-billion in the second quarter, up $464-million from the previous quarter.

Statistics Canada reports that's the highest level since record-keeping started in 1972.

Canadians travelling outside Canada spent $7.5-billion, up 5.9 per cent - the fastest increase since the fourth quarter of 2007.

In contrast, spending by foreign travellers in Canada fell 1.1 per cent to $4-billion from the first quarter, when Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics.

The travel deficit with the United States rose by $270-million to $2.7-billion in the second quarter, mainly due to an increase in spending by Canadian travellers in the United States.

Spending by Canadian travellers in the United States increased 5.7 per cent from the previous quarter to $4.5-billion while U.S. travellers spent $1.7-billion in Canada, down 1.6.

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